Razor blade sharpener



y 1964 F. J. PALMER 3,131,516

RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed March 11, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P1 13 I FRANK J. 222-2 B w 9H1 ATTORNEVZ May 1964 F. J. PALMER 3,131,516

RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed March 11, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FPANK J. PAL MER BYWIMMJIZYIKM.

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,131,516 RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Frank 5. Pahner, Pittsburgh, Pa, assignor to Patrick Minnoch, Pittsburgh, Pa. Filed Mar. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 264,358 Claims. (Cl. 51-65) This invention relates to razor blade sharpeners and more particularly to razor blade sharpeners which use a power vibratory motor which imparts movement to honing elements for effecting sharpening of the cutting edge or edges of a razor blade.

Heretofore, some razor blade sharpeners have been complex devices which incorporated a number of parts and in which one honing element traveled in one direction and a second honing element in an opposite direction. Other blade sharpeners have used a rocker type of blade holder which slides parallel to the honing elements and turns about its longitudinal axis while sliding to apply first one cutting edge and then another to the sharpening surface of the honing elements.

My invention provides a simple compact razor blade sharpener which very quickly, efficiently and safely sharpens the cutting edge of a single edge blade or both cutting edges of a double edge blade. Specifically, my invention in a razor blade sharpener comprises a housing, a blade holder disposed in the housing and having a pivotal mounting therein for arcuate rotation about its longitudinal axis. This holder receives and supports a razor blade in a position whereat the longitudinal axis of the blade is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the holder. The sharpener also includes a frame which rigidly mounts at least one pair of honing elements spaced apart from and disposed adjacent one side of the holder and extending substantially parallel thereto. In the pair of honing elements, each is spaced apart from the other to form a gap therebetween and is positioned relative to the holder so that one cutting edge of a razor blade disposed upon the holder extends into the gap and is opposite a surface of each of the honing elements on which surface sharpening is effected. Drivingly connected to the frame for oscillating it in a plane which extends across the cutting edge of the blade disposed upon the support and which is substantially parallel to the bearing surface of the support for the blade, is a power vibratory motor. Connected to the holder for rotating it about its pivotal mounting from a first position whereat the cutting edge of the blade disposed thereon is out of engagement with the honing elements to a second position Whereat the cutting edge engages one of the honing elements, is a means such as a turn knob.

One embodiment of my razor blade sharpener utilizes a second pair of honing elements located adjacent that side of the holder opposite the side on which the firstmentioned pair of honing elements is disposed. This second pair is mounted similarly to and oscillated similarly to the first-mentioned pair of honing elements.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial plan view of a preferred embodiment of my razor blade sharpener for double edge blades with the housing being cut away and shown in section;

FIGURE 2 is a view along the line IIII of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view along the line III-J11 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view along the line IVIV of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged section view along the line VV of FIGURE 3;

ice

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged section view along the line VI-VI of FIGURE 5; and

FiGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of my sharpener for single edge blades.

Referring to FIGURES 16 inclusive, my sharpener comprises a housing or casing l. in which is a razor blade holder 2, a frame 3 which mounts four honing elements 4, 5, 6 and 7, and a power vibratory motor 8 driven by electric power through a conventional circuit. An electric switch 9 operated by rotating the holder about its pivotal mounting controls delivery of electric power to the motor 5 for turning it on and off.

As shown in FIGURES l, 2, 5 and 6, the holder includes a blade support bar 16 and a channel 11 formed by a bottom plate 12, by a rear end wall 13 at the lefthand end of the bottom plate 12 and by two parallel and spaced apart side panels 14- and 15 joined to the sides of the bottom plate 12 and running the length thereof. Afiixed to the bottom plate on its underside and at its right-hand end, viewing the figures, is a pivot pin 16 rotatably mounted in an end wall 17 of the housing. Joined to the left-hand end of the holder at the end wall 13 is a stub shaft 18 located a short distance above the plane of the pivot pin 16 and carried by a partition panel 19 which is firmly connected to the top and bottom walls 20 and 21, respectively, of the housing. The pivot pin is located below an opening 22 in the end wall 17 of the housing (FIGURE 5) through which the support bar it) moves when inserting a blade, such as double edge blade 23, into or removing it from the sharpener.

This pivot pin 16 and the stub shaft 18 comprises a pivot mounting for the holder whereby it is turned through short arcs about the pivot mounting to effect sharpening of the cutting edge or edges of a razor blade carried thereby, as will be described hereinafter.

The stub shaft has two collars 24 and 25 which straddle and engage opposite sides of the partition wall 19 to anchor the channel 11 and thereby assure that it does not move when the support bar 19 slides thereon through the opening 22 in the end wall of the housing.

The support bar 10 has a vertical projecting lug 26 located on its upper side 27 and centrally thereof for receiving a longitudinal slot 28 which is stamped into a large number of single and double edge razor blades. This lug positions the blade on the support bar centrally thereof and assists to prevent it from moving upon the support bar it? during the sharpening operation.

Connected to the end of the support bar 16} adjacent the opening 22 is a turn knob 2*) which permits one to slide the bar along the channel 11 out through the opening 22 to place the blade 23 thereon and then slide it back through the opening 22 into the position for the sharpening operation. Engagement of the rear end of the support bar 1% with the end wall 13 assists to locate the blade 23 in the sharpening position. The knob 29 also enables one to rotate the channel 11, bar ill and blade 23 thereon about the pivot mounting in either direction along a short arc represented by arrow 30 (FIGURE 3) for sharpening.

Attached to the rear end Wall 13 of the channel 11 is a pair of spring clamps 31 and 32 which extend above and over 'the upper side 27 of the support bar and straddle the lug 2,6. These clamps run down along the sides of the lug and engage the top surface of the razor blade and firmly hold it down upon the support bar.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the housing supports four guide rails 33, 34, 35 and 36, two of which are afiixed to the top Zil and two of which are affixed to the bottom 21 thereof. These nails extend transversely of the channel 111 and support bar it and mount the frame 36 for slidable movement thereon. The frame carries the two pairs of honing elements 4, 5, 6 and '7 which may be made from abrasive material such as stone, or a non-abrasive material such as glass, metal, leather or plastic. Four blocks 37, 38, 39 and 4t affixed to the frame carry these honing elements. One pair of honing elements is spaced apart from the other pair to define a central chamber 4-1 therebetween in which is disposed the channel 11, support bar it and the razor blade 23 (FIGURE 3). Each honing element of a pair is spaced apart from the other element of its pair to form a space 42. therebetween for the entire length of the elements. This space 42 opens into the central chamber 4 1.

On opposite sides of this space 42 are the surfaces 4-3 and 44 of the two honing elements of a pair on which surfaces sharpening is effected. The cutting edges 45 and 46 of the blade 23 extend into this space 42 and are positioned therein substantially midway between the two sharpening surfaces 43 and 44 of the pair of honing ele ments. has a small bevel or taper 47 which runs from the chamber 41 towards the lateral sides of the frame.

Connected to the frame 3 through a rod 48 is the power vibratory motor 3 which imparts a fast, short-stroke oscillatory movement to the frame and, of course, to the honing elements along the guide rails in a direction represented by arrow 49. This movement is in a plane positioned transversely to and across the cutting edges of the blade, so that the honing elements when engaged by the cutting edge of the blade and when the vibratory motor is operating, effects sharpening of the cutting edge by a rapid oscillatory travel of the honing element thereacross. Preferably the stroke of the honing elements is to and the oscillations per minute, between 2600 and 7200. However, the stroke may be greater than and the oscillations less than 2690 per minute and more than 7260 per minute.

Additionally, the movement of the honing elements relative to the cutting edges of the blade can be longitudinally thereof and across the cutting edges for sharpening.

As shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 4, the stub shaft 18 mounts the switch arm 9 normally held in a horizontal position by two torsion springs d and 51 connected thereto on opposite sides of its axis of connection to the shaft and anchored to the partition panel, 19. When in the horizontal position, the arm is interposed between and out of contact with two paris of contacts 52 and 53 and 54 and 55, respectively, which form a part of a conventional electric circuit connected to the vibratory motor 8.

Accordingly, when the turn knob is rotated in either direction, as represented by arrow 3d (FIGURE 3), the switch arm engages diagonally opposite contacts 52 and 53 or 5d and 55 and thereby operates the motor and sharpens the cutting edge in a few seconds, preferably 4-10 seeonds. Then rotation of the turn knob back to its original position returns the switch arm to its horizontal position between the two pairs of contacts for turning off the vibratory motor.

Rotation of the turn knob also brings diagonally opposite sides 56 and 57 and S8 and 59 of the two cutting edges and 46 into engagement wth the two sharpening surfaces of diagonally opposite honing elements 4 and 7 or 5 land 6. Thus, sharpening of the double edge blade 23 includes effecting engagement of all four sides :of the two cutting edges with the four honing elem nts so that the channel ill, support bar 10 and blade 23 are turned from a first position (FIGURE 3) wherealt the cutting edges are out of engagement wtih the honing elements first in one of the two directions indicated by arrow 39 for a few seconds, to a second position whereat two diagonally opposite sides of the two cutting edges engage two diagonally opposite honing elements. Then, the blade is turned in the other direction for a few seconds also to the second position whereat the other two diagonally op- As shown in FIGURE 3, each honing element posits sides of the two cutting edges of the blade engage the other two diagonally opposite honing elements.

Mounting of the blade upon and removal from the support bar it) requires sliding the her out through the opening 22 in the end wall 17. After placement of the blade thereupon, the support bar is slid back through the opening for the sharpening operation.

FIGURE 7 shows my sharpener adapted for a sinme edge blade 60 with a channel 61 and support bar 62 slidably disposed therein and adapted for supportil'ng a pair of spring clamps (one 63 shown) for holding the blade 7 upon the support bar. Of course, the single edge blade requires a single pair of honing elements 64 and 65 mounted similarly to one of the two pairs of honing elements in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-6 inclusive, and similarly oscillated by the vibratory motor 8.

My sharpener has important features which render it advantageous to users. In the first place, it has a simple and rugged structure which provides long trouble-free service.

In the second place, the combination of the channel and support bar, of the mounting of the honing elements, and of the vibratory motor, effects sharpening of the cutting edge or edges in a few seconds.

Vfnile I have shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a razor blade sharpener having a housing, the invention comprising a blade holder disposed in said housing and having a pivotal mounting therein for arcuate rotation about its longitudinal axis, said holder receiving and supporting a razor blade in a position whereat the longitudinal axis of said blade is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said holder, a frame rig-idly mounting at least one pair of honing elements which are spaced apart from and adjacent one side of said holder and which extend substantially parallel thereto, in said pair said honing elements being spaced apart from and substantially opposite each other to form a gap therebetween and positioned relative to said holder so that the cutting edge portion of a razor blade disposed on said holder extends into said gap and is opposite a surface of each of said elements on which surface sharpening is effected, a power vibratory motor means drivingly connected to said frame for oscillating same and said pair of honing elements in a plane which extends across the cutting edge of 43. blade disposed upon said support, means connected to said holder for rotating same about its pivotal mounting from a first position whereat the cutting edge of a blade disposed thereon is out of engagement with said honing elements to a second position 'Whereat said cutting edge engages one of said honing elements, said holder being free from driving connection with said power vibratory motor means.

2. The sharpener 0i claim 1 characterized by a second pair of honing elements located adjacent that side of said holder opposite the side on which said first-mentioned pair is disposed, said second pair being disposed similarly and mounted similarly to first first-mentioned pair.

3. The sharpener of claim 1 characterized by said holder having cooperating means for operating said motor means when said holder is rotated from said first position towards said second position and for terminating operation of said motor means when said holder is rotated away from said second position back towards said first position.

4. The sharpener of claim 1 characterized by a second pair of honing elements located adjacent that side of said holder opposite the side on which said first-mentioned pair is disposed, said second pair being disposed similarly and mounted similarly to said first-mentioned pair, and by said holder having cooperating means for operating said motor means when said holder is rotated from said first position towards said second position and for terminating operation of said motor means when said holder is rotated away from said second position back towards said first position.

5. The sharpener of claim 1 characterized by said vibratory motor means and said frame being arranged relative to said holder so that said frame oscillates in a plane which extends transversely across the cutting edge of a blade disposed upon said support.

6. The invention of claim 1 characterized by said vibratory motor means being such that it oscillates said frame and said honing elements at substantially about 2600 oscillations per minute, said oscillations being substantially about to about A and being in a plane disposed substantially parallel to that surface of said holder which receives said razor blade when said holder is substantially in said first position.

7. The invention of claim 6 characterized by said oscillations extending transversely across the cutting edge of a blade disposed upon said support and by said holder having cooperating means for operating said motor means when said holder is rotated from said first position towards said second position and for terminating operation of said motor means when said holder is rotated away from said second position back towards said first position.

8. In a sharpener for an instrument having a cutting blade, said sharpener having a housing, the invention comprising an instrument holder disposed in said housing and having a pivotal mounting therein for arcuate rotation about its longitudinal axis, said holder receiving and supporting said instrument in a position whereat the longitudinal axis of said blade of said instrument is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said holder, a frame rigidly mounting a pair of honing elements which are spaced apart from and are adjacent said holder, said honing elements being spaced apart from and substantially opposite each other to form a gap therebetween and positioned relative to said holder so that the cutting edge portion of said blade when disposed on said holder ex tends into said gap and is opposite a surface of each of said honing elements on which surface sharpening is efiected, a power vibratory motor means drivingly con nected to said frame for oscillating same and said pair of honing elements in a plane which extends across the cutting edge of said blade when disposed upon said support, means connected to said holder for rotating same about its pivotal mounting from a first position whereat said cutting edge of said blade when disposed thereon is out of engagement with said honing elements to a second position whereat said cutting edge engages one of said honing elements, said holder being free from driving connection with said power vibratory motor means.

9. The invention of claim 8 characterized by said vibratory motor means being such that it oscillates said frame and said honing elements at substantially about 2600 oscillations per minute, said oscillations being substantially about to about and being in a plane disposed substantially parallel to that surface of said holder which receives said razor blade when said holder is substantially in said first position.

10. The invention of claim 9 characterized by said oscillations extending transversely across the cutting edge of a blade disposed upon said support and by said holder having cooperating means for operating said motor means when said holder is rotated from said first position towards said second position and for terminating opera tion of said motor means when said holder is rotated away from said second position back towards said first position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,973,739 Allioni et al. Sept. 8, 1934 2,008,025 Luxmore July 16, 1935 2,019,069 Buba Oct. 29, 1935 2,447,257 Kuzma Aug. 17, 1948 2,787,921 Blankenship Apr. 9, 1957 2,922,260 Swanson Jan. 26, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 255,325 Switzerland Jan. 17, 1949 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0 3, 131,516 May- 5, 1964 Frank J, Palmer corrected below.

In the grant, 1 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania," read Frank J Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, assignor of one-ha Minnock, of Pittsburgh, P Minnock, his heirs" their heirs ines l and 2, for "Fr ank J, Palmer, of ia, assignor to Patri ck Minnock, of Palmer of 1f to Patrick ted specification,

lines 3 and 4, for "Frank J, Palmer, Pittsburgh, Pa. assignor to Patrick Minnock, Pittsburgh, Pa read Frank J, Palmer, Pittsburgh, Pa, assignor of one-half to Patrick Minnock,

Pittsburgh, Pa

Signed and sealed this 29th day of September 1964,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J, BRENNER Commissioner of Patents 

8. IN A SHARPENER FOR AN INSTRUMENT HAVING A CUTTING BLADE, SAID SHARPENER HAVING A HOUSING, THE INVENTION COMPRISING AN INSTRUMENT HOLDER DISPOSED IN SAID HOUSING AND HAVING A PIVOTAL MOUNTING THEREIN FOR ARCUATE ROTATION ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS, SAID HOLDER RECEIVING AND SUPPORTING SAID INSTRUMENT IN A POSITION WHEREAT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID BLADE OF SAID INSTRUMENT IS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID HOLDER, A FRAME RIGIDLY MOUNTING A PAIR OF HONING ELEMENTS WHICH ARE SPACED APART FROM AND ARE ADJACENT SAID HOLDER, SAID HONING ELEMENTS BEING SPACED APART FROM AND SUBSTANTIALLY OPPOSITE EACH OTHER TO FORM A GAP THEREBETWEEN AND POSITIONED RELATIVE TO SAID HOLDER SO THAT THE CUTTING EDGE PORTION OF SAID BLADE WHEN DISPOSED ON SAID HOLDER EXTENDS INTO SAID GAP AND IS OPPOSITE A SURFACE OF EACH OF SAID HONING ELEMENTS ON WHICH SURFACE SHARPENING IS EFFECTED, A POWER VIBRATORY MOTOR MEANS DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME FOR OSCILLATING SAME AND SAID PAIR OF HONING ELEMENTS IN A PLANE WHICH EXTENDS ACROSS THE CUTTING EDGE OF SAID BLADE WHEN DISPOSED UPON SAID SUPPORT, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID HOLDER FOR ROTATING SAME ABOUT ITS PIVOTAL MOUNTING FROM A FIRST POSITION WHEREAT SAID CUTTING EDGE OF SAID BLADE WHEN DISPOSED THEREON IS OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID HONING ELEMENTS TO A SECOND POSITION WHEREAT SAID CUTTING EDGE ENGAGES ONE OF SAID HONING ELEMENTS, SAID HOLDER BEING FREE FROM DRIVING CONNECTION WITH SAID POWER VIBRATORY MOTOR MEANS. WITH SAID POWER VIBRATORY MOTOR MEANS. 